Boko Haram: Adamawa to hire more hunters

Adamawa State Governor Bala James Ngillari has said about 10, 000 people mostly local hunters, would be enlisted into the vigilance group named Civilian JTF to assist security agencies dislodge Boko Haram insurgents in northern and central parts of the state.

Last weekend, security forces and local hunters sacked terrorists in Chibok, Borno State. This is even as tension was heightened in Plateau State yesterday with the killing of a member of the security outfit,Operation Rainbow, allegedly by a member of sector 7 of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis.

On the plan to fortify Adamawa, Governor Ngillari, who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. P.P Elisha, said the new group would be known as Civilian JTF which would assist law enforcement agencies in providing security. He said, “that is why some members of the group join the military at the checkpoints. This does not give them a licence to take laws into their hands by harassing or arresting innocent members of the society.”

Ngillari, however, said it was only law enforcement agencies that will arrest or detain suspected criminals or Boko Haram militants. “People should note that it is only law enforcement agencies like soldiers or policemen who have the power to arrest or detain suspected criminals like Boko Haram members or robbers.”

The governor also denied that the local hunters and Civilian JTF that are now assisting troops had been withdrawn in the ongoing operations.

Meanwhile, tension again rose in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday following the alleged killing of Operation Rainbow member by STF operative.

Members of the two security outfits have for long engaged in cold war over which of the two bodies should maintain law and order in the state especially as one is heavily funded by the state government and the other is backed by the Federal Government from where it derived its mandate and funding. It was in the same Barakin Ladi community that a member of the STF allegedly raped a minor months back.

Sources said about 7.00pm on Sunday while some councillors and members of the Operation Rainbowwere returning home after monitoring the voters’ registration exercise were stopped at a security checkpoint by STF men. From the discussion that ensued between the STF men and the councillors, tempers flared and one of the legislators was dragged out of our official vehicle. It was at that point that the Operation Rainbow member, whose name was given as Chollom intervened. This angered the STF member who allegedly stabbed the Operation Rainbow staff who died instantly.”

When news of his death broke out , youths from the local government area came out en masse to protest his death and in dispersing the mob, members of the STF fired into the air; injuring three of the protesters .

The council Chairman, Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the incident, said the three persons were receiving treatment at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital. He lamented the activities of members of the STF in the area and called for the prosecution of the culprit.

The protesting youths had yesterday blocked the road leading to other local government areas of the state and are calling for the withdrawal of the STF men from the council areas; leaving travellers plying the road stranded for hours.